MLB.com used the phrase “big brother” to describe the return of Ryu Hyun-jin (36, Toronto Blue Jays).
MLB.com reported on Monday (April 29), “When his Toronto teammates call him Ryu, they use a term that stands out. It’s the Korean word ‘Hyeong,’ which means ‘big brother’ in English.”
“After nine years in the major leagues, Ryu also has the quieter task of guiding younger players on and off the field.” “Ryu is not a traditional leader, he is more than a mentor. He’s not a traditional leader, he’s more than a mentor, he’s a big brother.”먹튀검증
MLB.com believes the veteran’s return will have an impact on more than just his power, but also the clubhouse atmosphere.
After undergoing elbow ligament reconstruction (Tommy John surgery) last June, Ryu spent 14 months rehabbing. After taking the rehabilitation process one step at a time, Ryu will return to the field next month on April 2 against the Baltimore Orioles at Rogers Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
It will be about 14 months since Ryu took the mound against the Chicago White Sox on June 2 last year.
Alec Manoa, who follows Ryu closely, was excited to see him back.
“He takes me out to dinner and teaches me a lot of things,” said Manoa, who has been friends with Ryu since his big league debut in 2021. “When I traveled to Dunedin, Florida, in June of this year to make pitching adjustments, he took me out to dinner and told me a lot of stories.”
Ryu is called “big brother,” but he doesn’t enforce a hierarchy.
“He’s always joking around, and it’s very funny,” Kevin Gozman said. “He likes to share Korean culture with us, like buying us Korean barbecue.”
When younger players approach him, he offers advice. “He tries to share his experiences,” MLB.com said.
“I want to let them know what I went through when I was younger, and I think it’s great to talk to them,” Ryu said.
MLB.com also interviewed Ryu’s interpreter, Jun Sung Park, about his quiet rehabilitation process.
“Honestly, during the seven months I was in Dunedin, I just wanted to get out of Florida. I wanted to get back to the big league team as soon as possible,” Park said. “But Ryu never complained. He had a clear goal and did what he had to do. The more I watched him rehab, the more I admired him.”
Korean big leaguer Kim Ha-seong, who plays for the San Diego Padres, told MLB.com, “All the baseball players my age, including me, grew up watching Ryu Hyun-jin play. It’s a blessing to play in the major leagues in the same era as Ryu,” he said.
“When we went to Toronto in July, we were invited to Ryu’s house and had Korean food. I admired the way he brought his teammates together in a Korean way, even in the major leagues.”